Safety razor and blade therefor



June 1.938- Fys. MINASSIAN ,1 3

SAFETY RAZOR AND BLADE THEREFOR Filed July 12, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 N VEN TOR,

June 14, 1938. s M|NA$$|AN I 2,120,940

SAFETY RAZOR AND BLADE THEREFOR Filed July 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FEED/e/C S. /.7//v,4ssmw ATTORNEY.

Pa tented June 14, 1938 e e I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY 'BAZOR AND BLADE THEREFOR Fredric S. Minassian, New York, N. Y., assignor of thirty per cent to Jacob T. Basseches, New York, N. Y.

ApplicationJuly 12, 1934,,Scrial No. 734,731

17 came, (01. 30-41) This invention relates to razorconstructions QQP -I now, and t Provid Construction for the application of moistening fluids, and more which assures the proper fluid head and the particularly, to blades for use therewith. application of priming liquids in relation to the It is an object of my invention to provide a capillary orifice, to assure an eflicient and efiecrazor construction, particularly of the safety, tive discharge of the liqu u in l Shaving razor type which includes associated therewith, operations. a reservoir for moistening fluids, such as water It is further contemplated as an object of my or emollients, which ingredients may be delivinvention to provide in a safety razor construccred to the face of the user during -shaving opertion, of means to eiflciently apply liquids adjaations with a certainty and efficiency," while cent the shaving edge of the razor from a liquid maintaining the razor in a' clean and sanitary servo lid P d h p p liquid discharge condition. x and which includes a fluid head and priming I have observed thatshaving operations may flow of the liquid to augment the capillary be more effectively and efficiently carried out by I action, and to further'facilitate the filling of the i5 maintaining a film of water or similar emollient reservoir during the normal operations used in liquid upon .the face adjacent the shaving edge cleansing the razor.

and that this condition also alleviates discom- It is still further contemplated as an object of fort to the sensitive skin during shaving operamy invention to provide, in a safety razor contions. While frequent. lathering with shaving struction arranged for the application of fluids :0 soap provides therequisite effect for shaving, the during shaving operations, a novel construction lather frequently dries on the face or a good of blade to assure an eflicient and proper appliportion thereof, during the time consumed in cation of an emollient liquid, such, as water, ad-

shaving other portions, and this condition is not jacent the shaving edge and in advance thereof, conducive to best shaving results. Where shavwhile maintaining the relationship of the shaving :5 ing creams are used instead of lathers or soaps, edge to a liquid reservoir to maintain the proper the application of moistening agents, such as fluid head for the efficient distribution of'the water or similar emollient to the shaving-edge emollient liquid, and to determine and control becomes particularly important and desirable for the capillary action by the .blade construction efficient shaving operations. whereby an eflicient and sanitary operation is It is therefore contemplated as an object of maintained. my invention to provide, in association with a I To attain these objects and such further obrazor, and particularly those of the safety razor jects as may appear herein or be hereinafter type, of means for dispensing fluids, such aspointed out, I make reference to the accompany--v water or an emollient adjacent the shaving edge ing drawings, forming a part hereof, in whichof the blade so that contact of the razor with the Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one emface for performing the shaving operation will bodiment of my invention; include the application of liquids, such as water Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 22 or other emollients. ofT'igllrel;

I have also found that in attempting to spread Figure 3 is a perspective, exploded view of my to a wetting fluid in the form of water or other. device;

emollients, to the face during shaving operations, Figure 4 is a sectional plan view, with one form by including a fluid dispensing reservoir in assoof blade, as contemplated by my invention, taken ciation with the razor, depending upon a capilon the line 44 of Figure 1; lary orifice for feeding the liquid from the reser- Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, with a I -15 voir to the space adjacent the shaving edge, that blade forming another embodiment of my indiiiiculty is involved in discharging. the liquid, vention;

unless the proper fluid head" is maintainedand Figure 6 is a perspective exploded view of my the flow through a capillary orifice is augmented device, with the primary parts reversely arranged; by the application of a priming fiuidwhich pre- Figurev 7 is a fragmentary view in side elecedes the wetting action of the face adjacent the vation; capillary orifice. i Figure 8 is a section taken on the line 88 of It is therefore contemplated as an object of Figure 7.

my invention to associate in a safety razor con- Making reference to the drawings, I have ilstruction, a reservoir for purposes of delivering lustrated myinvention, in one embodiment-thereliquids, such as water or similar emollients, by a of, in connection with a double-edge flexible wafer-type blade holder, and in this construction, In represents the cap disposed upon the guard plates II and is arranged to be urged towards each other in clamping realtionship, by the handle I2. 7

In my preferred embodiment, the cap I0 is dished or arcuately formed so as to provide at its interior a substantial receptacle or reservoir I3.

In this cap, the side edges I4 and I5 and the end edges I6 and I! are shaped to form a. seat corresponding substantially to-the curvature assumed by the blade hereinafter to be described, in the preferred shaving position. Formed on the seat hereinabove described, there are provided a pair of lugs I8 and I9, depending from the edges I5 and I1, respectively. A central stem 20 may be formed integrally with the cap III, or as a separately formed member, and connected to the cap.

In my preferred embodiment, a gasket 2| is provided, arranged to lie upon the seat formed by the edges I4, IS, IS, and I1 and substantially conform thereto. Notches 22 and 23 are provided in the ends thereof, to engage the lugs I8 and I9, respectively. The cap III and gasket 2I may then be disposed over the blade 24. The blade is provided with edge slots 25 and 26 and a central orifice 21, adapted to receive the lugs I8, I9 and the central stem 20, respectively.

The guard plate II is similarly provided with slots 28 and 29, and a central orifice 30, adapted to receive the lugs I8 and I9, and the central stem 20, respectively. The stem 20 is preferably screw-threaded at 20a and when it is passed through the orifice 21 of the blade, and the orifice 30 of the guard plate, it is engaged by the handle I2, the upper portion thereof being screw-threaded at 3|, to engage the screwthreaded portion 20a of the stem 20 and there.- by clamp the assembly together. The handle I2, previously described, is centrally drilled or orificed at 32 immediately below the threaded interior section 3|, previously mentioned. The transverse drilling or opening 33 is formed through the side walls of the handle so drilled or orificed, andterminates in the 0pening'32 to provide a passage thereto.

The stem 20 previously described, is tubular in shape to provide a conduit 34 and at its upper edge, adjacent the central walls of the cap Ill, a transverse drilling or orifice 35 is provided, to form a passage leading to the receptacle or reservoir I3. The conduit 34 and orifice 35 are positionedin relation to the reservoir so that in the shaving position, the fluid cannot discharge through the orifice 35.

pletely enclosed receptacleor reservoir is pro-- vided.

Under these conditions, by inverting the assembly in water or similar fluid, orby holding the same under a spigot of flowing water, the liquid will be deflected from the bottom of the guard plate II, through the oriflce 33 and then I through the conduit 34, outwardly through the orifice 35 to fill the reservoir I3 completely.

The cap of the construction thus provided serves to operate in conjunction with the blade 24 to form a. sealed reservoir, as previously noted, in which discharge of the liquid cannot occur through the orifice 35, in the normal shaving position. To permit the discharge of the liquid contained within the chamber in the shaving position, the blade is formed so that it cooperates with the guard plates to provide a discharge orifice, and for this purpose, in one embodiment of my invention, capillary orifices 36 and 31 are formed in the blade.

The orifices 36 and 31 not only serve to discharge fluid from within the reservoir, but also facilitate filling the reservoir through the orifice 33, as by holding the assembly in an inverted position, as these orifices when the liquid enters the reservoir I3 through the orifice 35, will permit air to escape through one or both of the orifices 36 or 31.

The guard plate immediately below the capillary orifices 36 and 31, is formed with an enlarged chamber or slot 38, the front wall 39 thereof being slotted at 40, in the direction of thecombs of the guard plate. The chamber or slot 38 and its transversely disposed slot 40 serve to entrap liquid during the filling of the reservoir and the presence of this liquid serves to facilitate the fiow of the liquid from within the chamber outwardly to the edge of the comb of the guard plate. For purposes of convenience, I have referred to the chamber 38 and its discharge opening 40 as a priming chamber or priming slot in that in the filling of the reservoir I3, the fluid which is trapped within the priming chamber, when this is brought in contact with the face in the shaving position will serve to provide a film of the liquid which will first be spread over the face.

As the film of liquid spreads upon the face, the liquid will be drawn through the capillary orifices 31 or 38, whichever happens to be in use, into the priming chamber, constantly maintaining a supply of liquid in advance of the shaving edge of the blade. The relationship of the cap forming the reservoir to one side of the blade and the guard plate to the other side of the blade for feeding the liquid contained within the reservoir through the blade maintains a proper pressure head upon the fluid, and permits of the maintenance of liquid in the priming chamber to the other side of the blade, assuring prompt and accurate discharge of the liquid in the normal shaving position of the razor, without further attention.

By the construction as shown, it will be observed that the blade controls and determines the discharge of the liquid from the reservoir through the priming chamber through the orifice provided in'the blade, so that with each shaving operation and the usual cleansing accompanying the completion of the shaving operation, the parts may be readily and thoroughly cleansed and also a discharge orifice of predetermined characteristics maintained. Thus, with variations in construction of the guard plate and the priming chamber or equivalent portion thereof and the character of liquid used, variations may be made in the form of the blade and the form of the capillary orifice between the liquid reservoir and the priming chamber, to obtain proper flow ,of the liquidto be applied during the shaving operation.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 I have described and illustrated a safety razor in which the flow of liquid from a liquid reservoir and a priming slot or chamber is controlled and determined by the blade, preferably by a capillary orifice formed in the blade. I may, however, control and determine the'discharge capillary orifice interposed between the liquid reservoir and the priming slot or priming chamber by utilizing an the priming chamber 38.

parent that in this construction, orifices 36a and orifice in the blade, other than of such size as may be considered as a capillary orifice but nevertheless provide a construction in which I have the blade control and determine the discharge orifice connecting the liquid reservoir and the priming slot or priming chamber.

In Figure I have shown the guard plate H of similar construction as illustrated in Figure 4,

but having superimposed thereon another form of blade, referred to as 24a.

The blade 24a. has its general outline similar to the blade 24, except that the central orifice 21a is of irregular configuration and need not be of such size as to engage snugly the stem 20., In this form, for purposes of illustrating this form of the embodiment of the invention, the orifice 21a, which is formed in the blade 24a, is generally of rectangular configuration so that one or more portions of the walls thereof, such as the corners 36a or 31a overlap the priming chamber 38, by an overhang over the wall 39a of the priming chamber 38. Thus the blade and its orifice 27a, cooperate with a wall of the priming chamber'38 and serve to control and determine the capillary orifices between the reservoir l3 and Thus it will be ap- S'Ia are formed by the overlap which the larger orifice 21a makes over the guard plate H and the priming slot or priming chamber 38 therein provided.

While I have shown the cap III and the reservoir i3 therein formed, with a closure, when the same bears upon the blade 24 by an interposed gasket in that, in this construction the cap and a guard plate are made of metallic material and of, a contour which permits of a variation incurvaturepf the blade, it will be understood that where the cap I and the guard plate I l are so constructed as to give to the blade a relatively fixed curvature, the gasket 2| may be entirely omitted and still obtain substantially eflicient operation. So also, the gasket 2| may be omitted where the cap I0 is made of relatively resilient material, such as hard rubber, cast or molded artificial. resinous materials, such as-bakelite, celluloid or similar plastics which, under pressure in tensioning the cap upon the blade to the guard plate, these materials serve to provide an effective seal between the cap and blade.

' It will also be observed that though I have de-,

scribed the cap ID as being provided with locating lugs l3 and I9 properly to position the blade 24 by engagement of the slots 25 and 26 inrelation to the slots 28 and 29, carriedby the guard plate, other locating means may be used and the lugs l8 and 19, for example, may be extended for a substantial width to encase completely the discharge opening 40 may, under these conditions,

be carried by'the cap.-

To further illustrate the reversal of parts, which will be readily'recognized by those skilled in the art as inherent in the embodiment illus trated in Figures 1 to 5, it will be observed that where the parts are reversed Illa represents the cap which may "be disposed upon the guard plate Ila, and which parts are arranged to be urged towards each other in clam-ping relationship by the handle l2. In the cap, the side edges of the cap are formed with lugs l8 and I9, to be seated in the slots 28 and 29. The cap carries a central stem 20 of the form and construction already described. The guard plate is formed with a reservoir l3a, the bottom of which is orificed at 30a, to permit discharge therethrough of the stem 20. The same handle l2a,

may be associated with the parts so that water may enter the orifice 32 through the lateral open.- ing 33 and be directed through the orifice 35a, and be discharged into the reservoir [3a.

The cap is formed with an enlarged chamber or slot 38a, the front wall whereof 39a being slotted at 40a. The chamber 38a and its discharge opening 40a form, as in the already described embodiment,v the priming chamber or priming slot, the location whereof is operatively positioned in respect of the capillary orifices 36 and 31 in the blade 24, when this is mounted in position. It will therefore be appreciated that the construction shown in Figures 6 to 8 involves merely a reversal of parts in so far as the reservoir and priming chamber are concerned in relation to the blade 24 and that no further specific description need be made for fuller appreciation of my invention that in a construction embodying a blade clamping memberand 'a guard plate member, one of said members may include a reservoir for the liquid and the other may include a priming slot or chamber for connecting said reservoir through the capillary orifice in the blade for determining and controlling the fiow of liquid from the receptacle. In the claims, where I have referred to a capillary orifice, I mean to include thereby an closure for a fluid pressure head of a reservoir, when maintained without disturbance, but which under action of a disturbing force, including the spreading action of a priming film of liquid adjacent the orifice, will serve to permit a fiow of liquid from the reservoir at least equivalent to the spreading action of the priming film.

.It will also be understood that the form of opening which normally forms an effective holder and blades herein described are only ilappended claims.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. The combination with a razor of the character described comprising in its construction a blade clamping member and a guard plate member, a reservoir for a liquid formed in the space .between said members, and a blade forming a closure for said reservoir and including a capillary orifice for solely determining and controlling .the flow of liquid from said reservoir adjacent the shaving edge of said blade.

2. The combination with a razor of the character described, comprising in its construction a-blade clamping member and a guard plate member, one of said members including a reservoir for a liquid, a blade therefor, a capillary discharge opening for said reservoir for feeding liquid adjacent the shaving edge of said blade, and means for filling said reservoir, including a passage directed to said reservoir and located acter described, comprising in its construction a blade clamping member and a guard plate member, one of said members including a reservoir for a liquid, 8. blade therefor, a capillary discharge opening for said reservoir for feeding liq- I uid adjacent the shaving edge of said blade, and

means for filling said reservoir, including a passage directed to said reservoir and located at the upper level of the li uid when the razor is in the shaving position, a filling passage for said last mentioned means, cooperating with one of said members for receiving liquid therein to fill said reservoir by deflection.

4. The combination with a razor of the character described, comprising in its construction, a blade clamping member and a guard plate member, one of said members including a reservoir for a liquid, a blade therefor, a capillary discharge opening for said reservoir for feeding liquid adjacent the shaving edge of said blade, means for cooperatively connecting said members comprising a handle, including a conduit connected with said reservoir, and including a passage dirooted to said reservoir located at the upper level of the liquid when the razor is in a shaving position.

.5. The combination with a razor of the character described, comprising in its construction, a blade clamping member and a guard plate member, the clamping member including a reservoir for a liquid, a blade therefor, a capillary discharge opening for said reservoir for feeding liquid adjacent the shaving edge of said blade, means for cooperatively connecting said members comprising a handle, including a conduit connected with said reservoir, and including a passage directed to said reservoir located at the upper level of the liquid whenthe razor is in a shaving position and a filling opening in said handle, positioned in relation to one of said members for receiving liquid therein to fill said reservoir by defiectionfrom said member.

6. The combination with a razor of the character comprising in its construction, a blade clamping member and a guard plate member, the clamping member including a reservoir for a liquid and a blade forming a closure for said receptacle and including a capillary orifice for determining and controlling the flow of liquid from said receptacle adjacent the shaving edge of said blade, a conduit directed through one of said members for filling said reservoir and including a passage directed to said reservoir located at the upperlevel of the liquid when the razor is in the shaving position.

'7. The combination with a razor of the character described, comprising in its construction, a blade clamping member and a guard plate member, one of said members including a reservoir for a liquid, and a blade forming a closure for said receptacle and including a capillary orifice for determining and controlling the flow of liquid from said receptacle adjacent the shaving'edge of said blade, a handle member cooperating with said clamping-member to hold the assembly in clamped position upon said blade, and including a conduit connected with said reservoir, a passage in said handle leading to said conduit for filli the reservoir by liquid ----.terniining and controlling the flow of liquid from said receptacle to said priming slot or priming from said guard plate member.

8. The combination with a razor of the character described, comprising in its construction,

a blade clamping member and a guard plate member, a reservoir for a liquid formed in the space between said members, and a blade forming member and closure for said receptacle and including a capillary orifice for determining and controlling the fiow of liquid from said receptacle adjacent the shaving edge of said blade, a priming slot or chamber on said guard plate connecting said reservoir through the capillary orifice.

9. The combination with a razor of the character described, comprising in its construction, a blade clamping member and a guard plate member, said clamping member including a reservoir for a liquid, and a blade forming member and closure for said receptacle and including a capillary orifice for determining and controlling the fiow of liquid from said receptacle adjacent the shaving edge of said blade, 2. priming slot or chamber on said guard plate connecting said reservoir through the capillary orifice, and means for filling said reservoir.

10. The combination with a razor of the char acter described, comprising in its construction, a blade clamping member and a guard plate member, said clamping member including a reservoir for a liquid, and a blade forming member and closure for saidreceptacle and including a capillary orifice for determining and controlling the flow of liquid from said receptacle adjacent the shaving edge of said blade, a priming slot'or chamber on said guard plate connecting said reservoir through the capillary orifice, and means for filling said reservoir, comprising a conduit having a passage located at the upper level of the liquid when the razor is in the shaving position.

11. The combination with a razor of the character described, comprising in its construction,

a blade clamping member and a guard plate member, said clamping member including a res- 'ervoir for a liquid, and a blade forming member and closure for said receptacle and including a capillary orifice for determining and controlling the fiow of liquid from said receptacle adjacent the shaving edge of said blade, a priming slot or chamber on said guard plate connecting said reservoir through the capillary orifice, and means for filling said reservoir, comprising a conduit having a passage located at the upper level of the liquid when the razor is in the shaving position, said filling means being included by a handle for said assembly and having a filling passage positioned in relation to one of said members for receiving liquid therein to fill said reservoir by defiection from said last mentioned member.

, 12. The combination with a razor of the character described, comprising inits construction, a blade clamping member including a receptacle and a guard plate member including a priming slot or chamber and a blade forming a closure for said receptacle, said blade including a capillary orifice for determining and controlling the flow of liquid from said receptacle to said priming slot or chamber.

13. The combination with a razor of the character described, comprising in its construction, a blade clamping member and a guard plate member, oneof said members including a receptacle for a liquid, the other of said members including a priming slot or priming chamber, and a blade forming a closure for the receptacle formed in one of said members, a capillary orifice for dechamber.

14. The combination with a razor of the character described, comprising in its construction, a blade clamping member and a guard plate member, one of said members including a receptacle for a liquid and a blade forming a closure for said receptacle and a capillary orifice between said members for determining and controlling the flow of liquid from said receptacle adjacent the shaving edge of said blade directed through said blade,

15. The combination with. a razor of the character described, comprising in its construction, a blade clamping member and a guard plate memher, one of said members including a reservoir for a liquid, the other of said members including a priming slot or priming chamber and a blade forming a closure for said reservoir, said reservoir and chamber being connected through a capillary orifice for controlling the flow of liq- I uid from said reservoir adjacent the shaving edge of said blade.

- 16. A razor blade for use in a razor of the character described including in its construction, a reservoir for a gravitational supply of liquid, said blade being adapted to form a closure in said receptacle, and including a capillary orifice which forms the sole eflective closure for the gravitationally exerted'fluid pressure head oi. the reservoir on one side the blade when maintained without disturbance, but which under the action of a disturbing force, including the spreading action of a priming film of liquid adjacent the opposite side of the blade will serve to permit the flow of liquid from the reservoir at least equivalent to the spreading action of the priming him for determining and controlling the flow of liquid from said reservoir adjacent the shaving edge of said blade,

17. A razor blade for use in a razor of the character described, comprising in its construction, a reservoir for a gravitational supply of liquid, said blade including a portion cooperating with such construction, forming a capillary orifice which forms the sole efiective closure for the gravitationally exerted fluid pressure head of the reservoir on one sideoi the blade when maintained without disturbance, but which under the action of a disturbing force, including the spreading action of a priming film of liquid adjacent the opposite side of the orifice, will serve to permit the flow of liquid from the reservoir, at least equivalent to the spreading action of the priming film for determining and controlling the flow of liquid from the said reservoir adjacent the shaving edgeoi said blade.

FREDRIC S. MINASSIAN. 

